Senators GM exploring trades ahead of NHL draft
Steve Staios has the No. 25 pick from Florida available and is seeking immediate roster help before Friday's first round in Buffalo.
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Ottawa Senators general manager Steve Staios is actively shopping for trades heading into Friday night's NHL draft in Buffalo, armed with two first-round picks and a roster that wants to contend now.
The Senators hold the No. 25 selection acquired from the Florida Panthers on Sunday, plus the No. 32 overall pick awarded by the league in relation to a 2021 Vegas Golden Knights deal. While the No. 32 cannot be moved, Staios can use the No. 25 as leverage to acquire immediate help—either a top-six forward or a top-four right-shot defenceman.
Ottawa also acquired the No. 9 pick from Florida but traded it to San Jose on Tuesday in a deal that brought winger William Eklund to the capital. The Senators retain the Panthers' second-round pick in 2027 and their first-rounder in 2029, though Staios has no interest in dealing prospects.
Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks has emerged as a key target. The 23-year-old grew up in Ottawa and still makes his off-season home here. McTavish carries a $7 million U.S. annual salary with five years remaining. He has 77 goals and 181 assists in 304 NHL games but is not a fit under Ducks coach Joel Quenneville, creating mutual interest in a fresh start. Sportsnet reported the Senators are "trying hard" to land him, though the Ducks' asking price is steep.